I received a catalog in the mail yesterday for petardos or firecrackers. Of course they had the usual “kiddie stuff” like sparklers, snakes, smoke bombs, but they also have real firecrackers and rockets, and I don’t mean “bottle rockets”. The hunting and fishing store a few meters from where I live is also selling petardos. You have to enter from the rear and only three buyers are allowed at a time, I assume that is for safety reasons.

Summer produce

When I was at Alcampo yesterday buying groceries, I noticed that sandia (watermelon) was selling at 0,33 € a kilo or $0.20 a pound. And ripe tomatos were 0,89 € a kilo or $0.55 a pound. I actually buy ensalada tomatos which are specifically for salads and are very meaty with little juice or seeds. They’re a little more expensive, but worth it.

And I have been buying melocotones (peaches) for a month now. They are a bit expensive at 2,49 € for a kilo or $1.55 a pound. Like California, every few weeks there is a different variety available. Towards the end of summer they have a variety called “agua” that is really sweet and juicy. You almost need a bib to eat one.

The beach

More and more people are showing up at the beach and this is even during the middle of the work-day. The temporary buildings they use for bars and cafes have been up since the beginning of May. I noticed that a sand dredge appeared yesterday afternoon off of El Masnou beach. Last year they had built up the beach, but much of the sand was washed away a month later. This year the wave action has reduced the beach even more. It will be interesting to see what happens this time.

That revamped park in Montgat is almost done. The grass is coming in nicely. When it looks a little greener, I'll post some pictures. They all installed lighting, some of which lights up the hillside. (This is the site of the first railroad tunnel in Spain built in 1848.)

Firecrackers

Next week is the annual festa major or "big party" for my town. This will include fireworks on the beach and two correfocs where "devils" run through the streets with fireworks scaring away demons, etc. This year the route of the adult version will be very close to where I live, just up my street a hundred meters.

Yes, I did see Vendetta and noticed the parallels with the current US administration.